pcr writes of two choices where in fact if you don't choose the 'official' option you're on thin ice;

Two Possible Fates Waiting in the Wings

Paul Craig Roberts

I often wonder which of  two possible fates waiting in the wings will be ours.  Will Washington/Israeli hegemonic ambition, together with Russian/Chinese/Iranian denial, or perhaps avoidance, of reality, destroy us in nuclear war, or will the digital revolution and its bastard child–Artificial Intelligence–lock up humanity in endless tyranny?

I read idealistic accounts of AI in which we all have an AI assistant that manages our daily schedules, our health, diet, weight, and what we eat and drink, manages our investments, protects us against fraudulent bills, keeps watch over our identity and bank account, and ensures all bills are paid, all the while greatly increasing our productivity in our jobs and delivering entertainment.

The propaganda makes people feel secure and comfortable, especially really busy people and elderly people.  But in fact it makes them insecure and unaware of how insecure they are.  All of their information is in one place where it can be hacked or erased  along with their identity by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). 

Technology’s true believers see technology in an unrealistic way.  It is always an improvement in human existence.  But that is not true.  Initially technology improved human performance, but eventually it displaces human performance as AI and robotics are doing.

In the long ago days of the 1950s, or perhaps it was the 1960s, Mad Comics produced an issue in which everything worked for humans without their participation.  Then one day the system broke, and no one knew how to repair the system.  They all died..........more.......